Low-speed steam-engine.



N0 MODEL.

PATENTBD JUNE 2a, 1903. G. P. CLARK. r

LOW SPEED STEAM ENGINE.

APPLIOATION FILED 0013.3, 1901.

ru: mams PETERS co PHoTouTqu.: wAsmNGTnN. n. u

zen of the United dria, in the county of Alexandria and State of LUNITED STATES" PATENT Patented June .23, i903.

Orricn.

TO E. MANN VYNNE, OF `NEW YORK, N. Y.

Low-SPEED STEAM-ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION formingl part of Letters Patent No. 731,664, dated June23, 1903.4

Application filed October 3,1901.

.To a/ZZ whom it may concern-.- Beit knownthatl, GEORGE P. CLARK, aciti-States, residing at Alexan- Virginia, have invented certain new and-useful Improvements in Low-Speed Steam-Engines, of which the followingis a specification.

This invention relates to engines, and particularly to steam andanalogous engines of the low-speed type, andhas for itsobject to providean improved steam-engine of the class described in which pistons andcross-heads are dispensed with and in which there is a direct continuousexertion of the power in line with the periphery of the drivin g-whecls,whereby the loss of power is reduced to a minimum.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved steam-engineofthe class described in which there is no dead-center.

In the drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of an engine, showing thecylinder in central longitudinal section.

Fig. 2 'is a detail perspective view of `one of the driving-heads.

` Fig. 3 isa detail perspective view showing the stuiiing-box on thedriving-heads.

Corresponding parts in all the figures are f denoted by the samereference characters. l

My improved engine comprises in general two driving-wheels oronedriving-wheel and one idler; two cylinders located between saidwheels and parallel to each other, each of said cylinders being providedat each end with in@ let and exhaust valves and with a valve operating.said valves.

communicating through suitable connections with a similar valve at theopposite end of the other cylinder; a belt mounted on said wheels `andextending through said cylinders; a pair of driving-heads mounted ineach cylinder and adapted to clamp said belt when one movestoward theother and tomove freely on said belt when one moves away from the other,one

` head in eachcylinder being operative to drive the engine in eachdirection, and means -for The organization of the parts issuch that whensteam is admitted `to one of the cylinders at one end the head atthatend is driven toward the other head at `the other end, clamping thebelt and carrying it with it. When such head has moved about two-thirdsof the length of the cylinder, the

y steam is cut oh? from its cylinder, and when sain No. n.346. (No modemthe end of the stroke is reached the exhaust is opened. At the same timethe inletvalve at the opposite end of the other cylinder is opened andsimultaneously the valve at the opposite end of such cylinder,communicating with the valve at the opposite end of the iirst cylinder,and such latter valve are both open. The driving-head in such secondcylinder is driven in the opposite direction to that in which the. firsthead moved, clamping and carrying the belt with it and forcing the airthrough the` communication between the two cylinders. to the end of thecylinder, such head moving freely in this direction on the belt` Whenthe second head has moved about two-thirds of the length of itscylinder, the steam is cut oi, and when the end of the stroke is reachedthe exhaust is opened and the head is returned to. the other end of itscylinder by the operation previously described in connection with theother cylinder. To reverse the engine, the steam is admitted to theopposite end of the iirst cylinder in the first instance, and thecorresponding working head in the other vcylinder will be operated in asimilar manner to that described for the first head, but in the oppositedirection.

lIn the formshown in the drawings, and which, if desired, may be thepreferred form,

`my improvedengine comprises two driving wheels l or one driving-wheeland one idler, which may be of any suitable construction, herein shownas sprocket wheels. Such wheels l are carried by suitable shafts 2.l

Between such wheels l two cylinders 3 are mounted parallel to each otherand with the distance between their centers substantially equal to theoutside diameter of the wheels l.

`Fach of the said cylinders 3 is provided at AssiGNoR or ONE-HALF n Thisair drives the first head back i one end with a steam-chest 4, which hasthe usual connections with a suitable source of supply. (Not shown.) iIn each of said steamchests 4 there is an inlet and exhaust valve 5,communicating with said cylinders 3. Suitable cut-off valves l0 and l0Lare provided in such communications with the cylinders 3. Such valve 5may be ol' any suitable form, herein shown as an ordinary slide-valve,and

`may be operated in any suitable manner,

herein shown as an eccentric rod 6, connected gripping means is hereinshown and consists with an eccentric 6, mounted on the shaft 2 andoperatin g through the pivoted arm 6 and rods 6b, provided with suitablestuffing-boxes 7. The organization is such that the inletvalve 5 in onecylinder 3 will be closed when the driving-head 16 in such cylinder hasmoved about two-thirds of the length of such cylinder and the exhaustopened when the stroke is completed, and at the same time theinlet-valve 5 in the other cylinder 3 will be opened.

From a short distance from each end of each cylinder 3 suitable means ofconnection, herein shown as a pipe 11, extends to the opposite end ofthe companion cylinder 3, such pipes 11 being provided at each end withsuitable valves, herein shown as ordinary cutoff valves 12 and 12. Suchvalves 12 and 12 at the opposite ends of each of the pipes 11 areorganized to be operated simultaneously in a timed relation to theinlet-valves, as hereinafter described.

Suitable driving means are provided for the wheels 1. Such means areherein shown as a sprocket-chain 13, provided with substantially squareor rectangular links 14 so organized that when the chain 13 isstraightened out it will present a solid surface. This chain 13 passesthrough the cylinders 3, suitable stuffing-boxes 15 being provided ateach end of each cylinder 3. y,

Instead of the sprocket-wheels 1 and the sprocket-chain 13 ordinarywheels with a smooth periphery and a friction-belt may be used when thepower required is small.

A pair of suitable driving-heads 16 and 16 is provided in each cylinder3, one of which normally rests near each end of each of the cylinders 3.Such heads 16 and 16 are adapted to receive the chain 13 and areprovided with suitable stuffing-boxes 17 and are provided with suitablemeans for gripping the chain 13 when moving forward in the cylinders 3,which means are inoperative when said heads 16 and 16 are moving back totheir normal positions. A convenient form of such of a recess 18 in theforward face of each of said heads 16 and 16, in which recess 13 a dog19 is pivotally mounted, said dog 19 being normally inclined forward andresting on the chain 13. When the head 16 moves forward, the dog 19presses the chain 13 against the opposite wall of said recess 1S andgrips it so that it is carried along with the head 16. When the head 16commences to move backward, it isevident that the dog 19 will swingforward and the chain 13 move freely through the head 16. To insure apositive release of the chain 13, a pin 2O may be slidably mounted ineach head 16 and extend through said head 16, one end bearing againstthe inner surface of said dog 19 near its free end, and its other end,which, if desired, maybe provided with a head 21, normally projectingbeyond the rear surface of such head 16, so that when such head 16 movesback toward the end of the cylinder 3 the projecting end of the pin 2Owill come in contact with the inner wall of such end of the cylinder andthe pin 2O be pushed forward, pressing the dog 19 away from the chain13.

Instead of the dogs 19 the heads 16 and 16 may be provided with rollersand inclined surfaces, which will operate to grip the chain 13 when theheads 16 and 16 move forward and to release the chain 13 and permit itto pass freely through said heads 16 and 16 when l they move backward.

The operation and advantages of my invention will be readily understoodand appreciated. The steam-chests 4L being connected with` a suitablesteam-supply, the lever is turned to open the valves 10 and 12, theinletvalve 5 at one end of one of the cylinders 3 being open. The steamenters such cylinder and causes one of the heads 16 to move forward,gripping and carrying the chain 13 with it. When the head 16 has movedabout twothirds of thelength of the cylinder 3, the inletvalve isclosed, and when the stroke is coinpleted the exhaust-valve is openedand at the same time the inlet-valve at the other end of the companioncylinder 3 is opened. The steam enters the second cylinder 3, causes thehead 16 to move forward, gripping and carrying the chain 13 with it andforcing the air in front of said head 16 in the cylinder 3 through saidpipe 11, the valves 12, and against the lirst head 16, which is forcedback toward its normal position near the end of the cylinder 3, in whichmovement it slides freely on the chain 13. To reverse the engine, thelever is turned in the opposite direction, opening the valves 10 and 12.This admits the steam first to the opposite end of the first cylinderand forces the head 16 forward. When the head 16 has moved abouttwo-thirds of the length of its cylinder, the steam is cut off, and whenthe stroke is completed the-exhaust is opened, when the operation asdescribed as to the heads 16 is repeated as to the heads 16, except thatthe heads 16 move in the opposite direction and the valves 10 and 12take the place of the valves 10 and 12. It is evident that one of theheads 16 or 16 in one of the two cylinders 3 pulls continuously on thechain 13 in the same direction and in line with the outside periphery ofthe driving-wheels 1 while moving in the same direction. Hence there canbe no dead-center and the power must be exerted to its maximum extentdirectly and positively upon the driving-wheels 1.

My invention is especially adapted to automobiles or motor vehicles andis not confined to steam-engines, but may be applied to any vapor-engine or machine requiring the use of rotary motion.

I do not desire to be understood as limiting myself to the details ofconstruction and arrangement as herein described and illustrated, as itis manifest that variations and modifications may be made in thefeatures of construction and arrangement in the adapta- IOO tion of thedevice to various conditions of use without departing from the spiritand scope of my invention and improvements. I therefore reserve therightto all su ch variation and j modification as properly fall Within thescope of myinvention and the terms of the followof cylinders; adrive-belt passing through said cylinders, and means operablein saidcylinders, comprising heads adapted to clutch said drive-belt and carryit forward continuously during 'the operation of the mechanism.

3. The combination with motor mechanism-,-

i of cylinders; adrive-belt passin through said nately to clutchcylinders; and a plurality of friction-clutches A operable in saidcylinders and adapted alterand carry the drive-belt forward continuously`during the operation of the mechanism.

4f. The combination with motor mechanism,

of cylinders; and a'duplicate series of friction-clutches"operable insaid cylinders, and

t adapted one set to clutch and carry the drivebelt forward continuouslywhen the mechany of said mechanism.

ism operates in onedirection and the other set when the mechanism isreversed. 5. The combination with motor mechanism, cylinders betweensaid inders;` and heads operable in said cylinders and adapted to clutchand carry said belt during the operation forward continuously i 6. Thecombination with motor mechanism, of a pair of drive-wheels; a pair ofcylinders located between said wheels; s a drive-belt passing throughone of said cylinders on each passage-from one wheel to the other; and ahead operable in eachA of said cylinders and adapted alternately toclutch and carry said belt forward continuously during the operation ofthe mechanism.

7. The combination with mechanism, embodying a pair of drive-wheels, ofapair of cylinders located between said wheels, a drivebelt passingthrough one cylinder in going and through the other in returning betweensaid wheels; and a duplicate series of heads operable in said cylinderand adapted to clutch and carry said belt forward continuously duringthe operation of said mechanism, one series and the other series whengoing in the opposite direction.

8. The combination with motor mechanism of a pair of drive-wheels; apair of cylinders located between said Wheels; a drive-belt passingthrough one of said cylinders on each passage from one wheel to theother; a movable head operable in each of said cylinders and adaptedalternately to clutch and carry said belt continuously forward duringthe operation; and means for returning such movable heads to theopposite end of their respective cylinders after having carried thedrive-belt forward through thespace in which they move. l

The combination with motor mechanism, of a pair of cylinders positionedparallel to each other, an endless driving-belt passing through each ofsaid cylindersand a pair of movable heads operable in each of saidcylinders from opposite ends and adapted to clutch and carry forward thebelt, the head at one end of one cylinder alternating' with the head atthe other end of the other cylinder going one Way and the other pair ofheads alter-` nating when the motion is reversed.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name in the presence of thesubscribin g witnesses.

GEORGE P. CLARK.`

when going in one direction i

